Tulsi Gabbard Warned Trump About Iran War Consequences Before February Attack
Gabbard warned Trump about potential consequences before the Iran war.
US intelligence officials had warned about several potential consequences of a military escalation with Iran even before President Donald Trump approved the first US missile attack in February, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Then-intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard reportedly briefed Trump on assessments that killing Iran’s supreme leader could lead to a more hard-line government and increase the country’s interest in developing nuclear weapons.
Gabbard also reportedly warned that an escalation involving the US and Israel could prompt Tehran to target American forces and US partners across the Middle East. Intelligence assessments further cautioned that Iran could attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy route, potentially creating severe disruption in international oil markets. The warnings came as Iran was considered to be in a weakened position.
Other senior US military officials reportedly raised similar concerns with Trump before the conflict began. Their assessments included the possibility of American casualties, pressure on weapons stocks and readiness challenges for a military force already stretched across multiple commitments. Despite these warnings, Trump ultimately backed the approach presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was aimed at damaging Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
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Six months into the conflict, the warnings have taken on renewed significance, according to the report. The war, which Trump had reportedly expected to conclude within six weeks, has continued without a clear resolution. The conflict has also reportedly strengthened hard-line elements inside Iran, while the dispute over its nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved.
The prolonged conflict has also created wider costs for the United States, including pressure on ammunition supplies and military resources. US bases have reportedly sustained damage, while the fighting has contributed to significant casualties and disruptions in the energy sector. The continuing war is also creating political challenges for the Trump administration ahead of the US midterm elections.
Former US national security officials have argued that many of the difficulties now confronting the administration could have been anticipated before the military campaign began. Eric Brewer, a deputy vice president at the Nuclear Threat Initiative who previously served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, told the WSJ that the consequences were foreseeable. He linked the absence of a clearly defined political objective at the start of the conflict to the difficulties the administration has faced in pursuing diplomacy and reaching an agreement with Iran.
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